Using a hands-free phone that leaves both hands free to steer may make the physical act of turning left at an intersection easier to pull off, but it doesn't make it any safer. That's because attempting to make a left turn at a busy intersection taxes the brain more than turning right or driving straight through. And having a conversation at the same time further impairs the brain's ability to focus on the road.
These findings, published in Frontiers of Human Neuroscience, provide neural evidence for why hands-free phone technology isn't a good alternative to cell phone use. Instead, it distracts the brain when it most needs to be paying attention to the road.
(thanks Miss Rare)
3 comment(s):
Does it make a difference which side of the road traffic uses? That is, does this turning left problem only occur in traffic-on-the-right countries?
Is a left turner harder than a right turn in traffic-on-the-left countries like the UK, Australia, and Japan?
I guess that in countries where they drive on the left side of the road, it's just the other way around.
It all has to do with turning against oncoming traffic.
Or right. Or take any other action involving control of an automobile. Most people can't drive properly when they're actually focused on the task -- which is rarely.
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